Designation: A957/A957M − 15a
Standard Specification for
Investment Castings, Steel and Alloy, Common
Requirements, for General Industrial Use1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A957/A957M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification covers a group of requirements that
are mandatory for castings produced by the investment casting
process to meet the metallurgical requirements of the following
steel casting specifications issued by ASTM.
ASTM Designation Title of Specification
A27/A27M Steel Castings, Carbon, for General Ap-
plication
A128/A128M Steel Castings, Austenitic Manganese
A148/A148M Steel Castings, High-Strength, for Struc-
tural Purposes
A297/A297M Steel Castings, Iron-Chromium and Iron-
Chromium-Nickel, Heat-Resistant, for
General Application
A447/A447M Steel Castings, Chromium-Nickel-Iron Al-
loy (25-12 Class), for High-Temperature
Service
A494/A494M Castings, Nickel and Nickel Alloy
A560/A560M Castings, Chromium-Nickel Alloy
A732/A732M Castings, Investment, Carbon and Low
Alloy Steel for General Application, and
Cobalt Alloy for High Strength at Elevated
Temperatures
A743/A743M Castings, Iron-Chromium, Iron-Chromium-
Nickel, Corrosion-Resistant, for General
Application
A744/A744M Castings, Iron-Chromium-Nickel, Corro-
sion Resistant, for Severe Service
A747/A747M Steel Castings, Stainless, Precipitation
Hardening
A890/A890M Castings, Iron-Chromium-Nickel-
Molybdenum Corrosion-Resistant, Duplex
(Austenitic/Ferritic) for General Applica-
tion
A915/A915M Steel Castings, Carbon and Alloy, Chemi-
cal Requirements Similar to Standard
Wrought Grades
A958 Steel Castings, Carbon and Alloy, with
Tensile Requirements, Chemical Require-
ments Similar to Standard Wrought
Grades
A1002 Castings, Nickel-Aluminum Ordered Alloy
1.2 This specification also covers a group of supplementary
requirements that may be applied to the above specifications as
indicated therein. These are provided for use when additional
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.18 on Castings.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2015. Published November 2015. Originally
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as A957/A957M – 15.
DOI: 10.1520/A0957_A0957M-15A.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
testing or inspection is desired and apply only when specified
individually by the purchaser in the order.
1.3 When investment castings are ordered, the requirements
stated in this specification form an integral part of the material
specification. In cases of conflict, the requirements of this
specification shall take precedence over the individual material
specification requirements.
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
with the standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
A27/A27M Specification for Steel Castings, Carbon, for
General Application
A128/A128M Specification for Steel Castings, Austenitic
Manganese
A148/A148M Specification for Steel Castings, High
Strength, for Structural Purposes
A297/A297M Specification for Steel Castings, Iron-
Chromium and Iron-Chromium-Nickel, Heat Resistant,
for General Application
A370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing
of Steel Products
A380 Practice for Cleaning, Descaling, and Passivation of
Stainless Steel Parts, Equipment, and Systems
A447/A447M Specification for Steel Castings, Chromium-
Nickel-Iron Alloy (25-12 Class), for High-Temperature
Service
A488/A488M Practice for Steel Castings, Welding, Qualifi-
cations of Procedures and Personnel
A494/A494M Specification for Castings, Nickel and Nickel
Alloy
A560/A560M Specification for Castings, Chromium-Nickel
Alloy
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
 A957/A957M − 15a
A609/A609M Practice for Castings, Carbon, Low-Alloy,
and Martensitic Stainless Steel, Ultrasonic Examination
Thereof
A732/A732M Specification for Castings, Investment, Car-
bon and Low Alloy Steel for General Application, and
Cobalt Alloy for High Strength at Elevated Temperatures
A743/A743M Specification for Castings, Iron-Chromium,
Iron-Chromium-Nickel, Corrosion Resistant, for General
Application
A744/A744M Specification for Castings, Iron-Chromium-
Nickel, Corrosion Resistant, for Severe Service
A747/A747M Specification for Steel Castings, Stainless,
Precipitation Hardening
A751 Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology for Chemi-
cal Analysis of Steel Products
A800/A800M Practice for Steel Casting, Austenitic Alloy,
Estimating Ferrite Content Thereof
A890/A890M Specification for Castings, Iron-Chromium-
Nickel-Molybdenum Corrosion-Resistant, Duplex
(Austenitic/Ferritic) for General Application
A903/A903M Specification for Steel Castings, Surface Ac-
ceptance Standards, Magnetic Particle and Liquid Pen-
etrant Inspection
A915/A915M Specification for Steel Castings, Carbon, and
Alloy, Chemical Requirements Similar to Standard
Wrought Grades
A941 Terminology Relating to Steel, Stainless Steel, Related
Alloys, and Ferroalloys
A958 Specification for Steel Castings, Carbon and Alloy,
with Tensile Requirements, Chemical Requirements Simi-
lar to Standard Wrought Grades
A967 Specification for Chemical Passivation Treatments for
Stainless Steel Parts
A991/A991M Test Method for Conducting Temperature
Uniformity Surveys of Furnaces Used to Heat Treat Steel
Products
A997 Practice for Investment Castings, Surface Acceptance
Standards, Visual Examination
A1002 Specification for Castings, Nickel-Aluminum Or-
dered Alloy
A1058 Test Methods for Mechanical Testing of Steel
Products—Metric
A1067 Specification for Test Coupons for Steel Castings
A1080 Practice for Hot Isostatic Pressing of Steel, Stainless
Steel, and Related Alloy Castings
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
Determine Conformance with Specifications
E94 Guide for Radiographic Examination
E125 Reference Photographs for Magnetic Particle Indica-
tions on Ferrous Castings
E165 Practice for Liquid Penetrant Examination for General
Industry
E186 Reference Radiographs for Heavy-Walled (2 to 41⁄2 in.
(50.8 to 114 mm)) Steel Castings
E192 Reference Radiographs of Investment Steel Castings
for Aerospace Applications
E280 Reference Radiographs for Heavy-Walled (41⁄2 to 12
in. (114 to 305 mm)) Steel Castings
2
E340 Practice for Macroetching Metals and Alloys
E353 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Stainless,
Heat-Resisting, Maraging, and Other Similar Chromium-
Nickel-Iron Alloys
E354 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of High-
Temperature, Electrical, Magnetic, and Other Similar Iron,
Nickel, and Cobalt Alloys
E446 Reference Radiographs for Steel Castings Up to 2 in.
(50.8 mm) in Thickness
E709 Guide for Magnetic Particle Testing
E2660 Digital Reference Images for Investment Steel Cast-
ings for Aerospace Applications
2.2 SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice:3
ARP 1341 Determining Decarburization and Carburization
in Finished Parts of Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 The definitions in Test Methods and Definitions A370,
Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology A751, Terminology
A941, and Test Methods A1058 are applicable to this specifi-
cation and to those listed in 1.1.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 investment casting, n—a metal casting that is produced
in a mold obtained by investing (surrounding) an expendable
pattern with a ceramic slurry that is allowed to solidify. The
expendable pattern may consist of wax, plastic, or other
material and is removed prior to filling the mold with liquid
metal.
3.2.2 master heat, n—a quantity of metal processed in a
single furnace or refining vessel at one time in such a manner
as to produce the desired composition and properties.
3.2.3 sub-heat, n—a portion of a master heat remelted
without additional processing for pouring into castings. Syn-
onyms: melt, production heat.
4. Materials and Manufacture
4.1 When the purchaser imposes the requirements of this
specification, the manufacturer is responsible for compliance
with the specification requirements during the production and
processing of the casting by themselves and any of their
subcontractors.
4.2 Melting Process—Master heats shall be made by the
electric furnace process with or without separate refining such
as argon-oxygen-decarburization (AOD), vacuum-oxygen-
degassing (VOD), vacuum-induction-melting (VIM), and so
forth, unless otherwise specified in the individual specification
or agreed upon between the customer and producer. Master
heats may be used directly for producing castings or converted
into ingot, bar, shot, or other suitable form, not including gates
and risers from casting production, for later remelting as a
sub-heat.
4.3 Re-melting Process—Sub-heats shall be produced from
master heat metal in suitable batch sizes by electric induction
3
Available from Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), 400 Commonwealth
Dr., Warrendale, PA 15096-0001, http://www.sae.org.
 A957/A957M − 15a
furnace with or without atmosphere protection such as vacuum TABLE 1 Product Analysis Tolerances—Carbon and Low Alloy
or inert gas unless otherwise specified in the individual Steels
specification or agreed upon between the customer and pro- TolerancesB,C Over
Element Range, %A Maximum or Under
ducer. Revert (gates, sprues, risers, and rejected castings) shall Minimum Limit, %
not be re-melted except in master heats.
C up to 0.65 0.03 × % CL + 0.02
4.4 Sampling: above 0.65 0.04
4.4.1 If castings are poured directly from one or more Mn up to 1 0.08 × % MnL + 0.01
above 1 0.09
master heats, then the samples for chemical and other required Si up to 0.60 0.22 × % SiL − 0.01
testing shall also be poured directly from each of the master above 0.60 0.15
heats. P all 0.13 × % PL + 0.005
S all 0.36 × % SL + 0.001
4.4.2 If castings are poured from a sub-heat, then the Ni up to 2 0.10 × % NiL + 0.03
samples for chemical and other required testing shall also be above 2 0.25
poured from a sub-heat of that same master heat, but not Cr up to 2 0.07 × % CrL + 0.04
above 2 0.18
necessarily from the same sub-heat as the castings. The Mo up to 0.6 0.04 × % MoL + 0.03
sub-heat used for the test samples shall be produced using the above 0.6 0.06
same melting practices and additions as used to produce the V up to 0.25 0.23 × % VL + 0.004
above 0.25 0.06
castings. W up to 0.10 0.08 × % WL + 0.02
4.4.3 Unless otherwise specified by the purchaser, test above 0.10 0.02
specimens may be taken from castings or from coupons cast Cu up to 0.15 0.18 × % CuL + 0.02
above 0.15 0.05
integrally with the castings, in the same molds as the castings, Al up to 0.10 0.08 × % AlL + 0.02
or in separate molds. above 0.10 0.03
A
4.5 Heat Treatment: The range denotes the composition limits up to which tolerances are computed
by the equation, and above which the tolerances are given by a constant.
4.5.1 Castings shall be heat treated in the working zone of a B
The subscript L for the elements in each equation indicates that the limits of the
furnace that has been surveyed in accordance with Test Method element specified by the applicable specification are to be inserted into the
A991/A991M. equation to calculate the tolerance for the upper limit and the lower limit (if
applicable), respectively. Examples of computing tolerances are presented in
4.5.2 When castings are heat treated at temperatures above footnote C.
2000°F [1100°C], then the working zone shall have been C
To illustrate the computation of the tolerance, consider the manganese maximum
established by a survey performed at not more than 25°F of 0.70 for an 0.30 carbon grade 65-35 in Specification A27/A27M. The maximum
permissible deviation is (0.08 × 0.70 + 0.01) = 0.066. Therefore, the highest
[15°C] below nor more than 200°F [110°C] above the mini- acceptable product analysis is 0.766. Similarly, for an 0.20 carbon grade 70-40 in
mum heat treatment temperature specified for the grade. If a Specification A27/A27M, the maximum manganese content is 1.40; thus, the
minimum heat treatment temperature is not specified for the highest acceptable product analysis is (1.40 + 0.09) = 1.49.

grade, then the survey temperature shall be not more than 50°F
[30°C] below nor more than 175°F [100°C] above the furnace
set point used.
4.5.3 The maximum variation in measured temperature as
determined by the difference between the highest temperature
and the lowest temperature shall be as agreed between the
purchaser and producer except that during production heat
treatment, no portion of the furnace shall be below the
minimum specified temperature nor above the maximum
specified temperature for the grade being processed.
5. Chemical Composition
5.1 Chemical Analysis—Chemical analysis of materials
covered by this specification shall be in accordance with Test
Methods, Practices, and Terminology A751.
5.2 Heat Analysis—An analysis of samples obtained in
accordance with 4.4 or Supplementary Requirement S20 as
appropriate, shall be made by the manufacturer to determine
the percentages of the elements specified in the individual
specification for the grade being poured. When drillings are
used, they shall be taken not less than 1⁄16 in. [2 mm] beneath
the surface. The chemical composition thus determined shall
conform to the requirements in the individual specification for
the grade being poured.
5.3 Product Analysis—A product analysis may be made by
the purchaser from material representing each master heat,
sub-heat, lot, or casting. The analysis shall be made on
representative material. Samples for carbon analysis of carbon
and alloy steel shall be taken no closer than 1⁄16 in. [2 mm] to
a cast surface, except that castings too thin for this shall be
analyzed on representative material. The chemical composition
thus determined shall meet the requirements specified in the
applicable specification for the grade involved, or shall be
subject to rejection by the purchaser, except that the chemical
composition determined for carbon and low alloy steel and
stainless steel castings may vary from the specified limits by
the amounts shown in Tables 1 and 2, respectivel. The product
analysis tolerances of Table 1 are not applicable as acceptance
criteria for heat analysis by the casting manufacturer. When
comparing product and heat analysis for other than carbon and
low alloy steels, and stainless steels, the reproducibility Data
R2, in Test Methods E353 or E354, as applicable, shall be
taken into consideration.
5.4 Unspecified Elements—When chemical analysis for el-
ements not specified for the grade ordered is desired, Supple-
mentary Requirement S13 may be specified.
NOTE 1—All commercial metals contain small amounts of various
elements in addition to those that are specified. It is neither practical nor
necessary to specify limits for every unspecified element that might be
present, despite the fact that the presence of many of these elements is
often routinely determined by the producer.

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 A957/A957M − 15a
TABLE 2 Product Analysis Tolerances—Stainless Steels
Tolerance Over the Tolerance Over the
Limit or Maximum of Maximum Limit or Limit or Maximum of Maximum Limit or
Elements Elements
Specified Range, % Under the Minimum Specified Range, % Under the Minimum
Limit Limit
Carbon to 0.010, incl 0.002 Titanium to 1.00, incl 0.05
over 0.010 to 0.030, incl 0.005 over 1.00 to 3.00, incl 0.07
over 0.030 to 0.20, incl 0.01
over 0.20 to 0.60, incl 0.02 Cobalt over 0.05 to 0.50, incl 0.01A
over 0.60 to 1.20, incl 0.03 over 0.50 to 2.00, incl 0.02
over 2.00 to 5.00, incl 0.05
Manganese to 1.00, incl 0.03
over 1.00 to 3.00, incl 0.04 Columbium plus
over 3.00 to 6.00, incl 0.05 tantalum to 1.50, incl 0.05
over 6.00 to 10.00, incl 0.06 (niobium plus tantalum)
over 10.00 to 15.00, incl 0.10
over 15.00 to 20.00, incl 0.15 Tantalum to 0.10, incl 0.02

Phosphorus to 0.040, incl 0.005 Copper to 0.50, incl 0.03

over 0.040 to 0.20, incl 0.010 over 0.50 to 1.00, incl 0.05
over 1.00 to 3.00, incl 0.10
Sulfur to 0.040, incl 0.005 over 3.00 to 5.00, incl 0.15
over 0.040 to 0.20, incl 0.010 over 5.00 to 10.00, incl 0.20
over 0.20 to 0.50, incl 0.020
Aluminum to 0.15, incl –0.005, +0.01
Silicon to 1.00, incl 0.05 over 0.15 to 0.50, incl 0.05
over 1.00 to 3.00, incl 0.10 over 0.50 to 2.00, incl 0.10
over 3.00 to 6.00, incl 0.15
Nitrogen to 0.02, incl 0.005
Chromium over 4.00 to 10.00, incl 0.10 over 0.02 to 0.19, incl 0.01
over 10.00 to 15.00, incl 0.15 over 0.19 to 0.25, incl 0.02
over 15.00 to 20.00, incl 0.20 over 0.25 to 0.35, incl 0.03
over 20.00 to 30.00, incl 0.25 over 0.35 to 0.45, incl 0.04
over 0.45 to 0.55, incl 0.05
Nickle to 1.00, incl 0.03
over 1.00 to 5.00, incl 0.07 Tungston to 1.00, incl 0.03
over 5.00 to 10.00, incl 0.10 over 1.00 to 2.00, incl 0.05
over 10.00 to 20.00, incl 0.15
over 20.00 to 30.00, incl 0.20 Vanadium to 0.50, incl 0.03
over 0.50 to 1.50, incl 0.05
Molybdenum over 0.20 to 0.60, incl 0.03
over 0.60 to 2.00, incl 0.05 Selenium all 0.03
over 2.00 to 8.00, incl 0.10
A
Product analysis limits for cobalt under 0.05 % have not been established, and the manufacturer should be consulted for those limits.

5.5 Grade substitution—Grade substitution is not permitted.
Grade substitution occurs when the material being supplied
contains one or more elements that are not specified for the
supplied material such that the material conforms to the
requirements of a different grade.
6. Mechanical Test Requirements
6.1 The individual product specifications vary as to whether
mechanical tests are required; for this reason, and to determine
specific test requirements, the individual product specification
should be reviewed. If mechanical testing is required by the
product specification, sampling shall be in accordance with 4.4
or with Supplementary Requirement S21 as appropriate.
6.2 Unless otherwise specified by the purchaser, when
mechanical properties are required by the product
specification, test coupons may be taken from castings, may be
cast integrally with the castings, or may be cast in separate
molds made of the same material used for the production
molds, cast in the same foundry and melted using the same
foundry practices as those used for the castings, in accordance
with Specification A1067, Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, or Fig. 4,
except when Supplementary Requirement S15 is specified. The
test coupon in Specification A1067, Fig. 4 shall be employed
only for austenitic alloy castings with cross sections less than
21⁄2 in. [65 mm].4
NOTE 2—TEST COUPONS FOR LARGE AND HEAVY STEEL CASTINGS—The test
coupons in A1067, Fig. 1 are to be used for large and heavy steel castings.
However, at the option of the foundry the cross-sectional area and length
of the standard coupon may be increased as desired.
NOTE 3—BEND BAR—If a bend bar is required, an alternate design (as
shown by dotted lines in A1067, Fig. 1) is indicated.
NOTE 4—A1067, FIG 2—pour through head; cover molten head with
powdered charcoal, coke dust, and so forth, immediately after pouring, in
order to keep head fluid as long as possible.
NOTE 5—A1067, FIG 4—Coupons produced in this manner are suitable
for austenitic alloys only. The mold may be preheated for pouring to
produce a sound coupon.
6.3 Choice of testing track from the options listed in Test
Methods A1058 when material is ordered to an M suffix (SI
units) product standard, should be identified by the purchaser
in the ordering information. If the choice of test track is not
4
Information on the relationship of mechanical properties determined on test
coupons obtained as specified in 6.2 with those obtained from the casting may be
found in The Steel Casting Handbook, Fifth Edition, Steel Founders’ Society of
America, 1980, pp. 15–35 through 15–43.

4
 A957/A957M − 15a
specified in the order, then the default ASTM track shall be
used as noted in Test Methods A1058.
6.4 The coupon from which the test specimen is taken shall
be heat treated in production furnaces to the same procedure as
the castings it represents.
6.5 The specimens may be cast to shape or machined from
coupons to dimensions in accordance with Test Methods and
Definitions A370 or the ICI-type bar shown in A1067, Fig. 3.
6.6 If any specimen shows defective machining or develops
flaws, it may be discarded and another substituted from the
same master heat.
6.7 To determine conformance with the tension test
requirements, an observed value or calculated value shall be
rounded off in accordance with Practice E29 to the nearest 0.5
ksi [5 MPa] for yield and tensile strength and to the nearest 1 %
for elongation and reduction of area.
6.7.1 In the special case of rounding the number “5” when
no additional numbers other than “0” follow the “5,” rounding
shall be done in the direction of the specification limits if
following Practice E29 would cause rejection of material.
7. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
7.1 All castings shall be made in a workmanlike manner and
shall conform to the dimensions on drawings furnished by the
purchaser before manufacture is started. If the pattern is
supplied by the purchaser or is produced using a die supplied
by the purchaser, the dimensions of the casting shall be as
predicated by the pattern or die.
8. Quality
8.1 The surface of the casting shall be free of adhering
ceramic, scale, cracks, and hot tears as determined by visual
examination. Other surface discontinuities shall meet the visual
SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
Supplementary requirements shall be applied only when specified by the purchaser. Details of the
supplementary requirements shall be agreed upon between the manufacturer and purchaser. The
specified tests shall be performed by the manufacturer prior to shipment of the castings.
S1. Magnetic Particle Examination
S1.1 Castings shall be examined for surface and near-
surface discontinuities by magnetic particle examination. The
examination shall be in accordance with Practice E709. The
extent of examination and the basis for acceptance shall be
agreed upon between the manufacturer and the purchaser.
Specification A903/A903M may be used as a basis for such
agreement.
S2. Radiographic Examination
S2.1 Castings shall be examined for internal defects by
means of X-rays or gamma rays. The procedure shall be in
accordance with Guide E94, and types and degrees of discon-
tinuities considered shall be judged by Reference Radiographs
E186, E192, E280, E446, or E2660. Extent of examination and
5
acceptance standards specified in the order. Practice A997 or
other visual standards may be used to define acceptable surface
discontinuities and finish. Unacceptable visual surface discon-
tinuities shall be removed and their removal verified by visual
examination of the resultant cavities.
8.2 When additional inspection is desired, Supplementary
Requirements S1, S2, S3, S4, or S5 may be specified.
9. Repair
9.1 Repair by welding shall be in accordance with the
requirements of the individual specification using procedures
and welders qualified in accordance with Practice A488/
A488M.
10. Inspection
10.1 The manufacturer shall afford the purchaser’s inspector
all reasonable facilities necessary to satisfy that the material is
being produced and furnished in accordance with the appli-
cable specification. Foundry inspection by the purchaser shall
not interfere unnecessarily with the manufacturer’s operations.
All tests and inspections, with the exception of product
analysis (5.3), are the responsibility of the manufacturer.
11. Rejection
11.1 Subsequent to acceptance at the manufacturer’s works,
material that is found to be unacceptable as determined by
requirements specified in the order may be rejected by the
purchaser. The manufacturer should be notified of such rejec-
tion. If the manufacturer is dissatisfied with the results of any
tests performed by the purchaser, he may make claim for a
rehearing.
12. Keywords
12.1 casting; investment casting; master heat; steel; sub-
heat
basis for examination shall be agreed upon between the
manufacturer and purchaser.
S3. Liquid Penetrant Examination
S3.1 Castings shall be examined for surface discontinuities
by means of liquid penetrant examination. The examination
shall be in accordance with Practice E165. Areas to be
inspected, methods and types of liquid penetrants to be used,
developing procedure, and basis for acceptance shall be agreed
upon between the manufacturer and purchaser. Specification
A903/A903M may be used as a basis for such agreement.
S4. Ultrasonic Examination
S4.1 Castings shall be examined for internal defects by
means of ultrasonic examination. The examination procedure
shall be in accordance with Practice A609/A609M. Extent of
 A957/A957M − 15a
examination, methods of testing, and basis for acceptance shall
be agreed upon between the manufacturer and purchaser.
S5. Examination of Weld Preparation
S5.1 Magnetic particle or liquid penetrant examination of
cavities prepared for welding shall be performed to verify
removal of those discontinuities found unacceptable by the
examination method specified for the casting. The method of
performing magnetic particle or liquid penetrant examination
shall be in accordance with either Guide E709 or Test Method
E165. Unless other degrees of shrinkage or types of disconti-
nuities found in the cavities are specified, Type II, Internal
Shrinkage, of Reference Photographs E125, of Degree 2 in
sections up to 2 in. [50 mm] thick and of Degree 3 in sections
over 2 in. [50 mm] thick shall be acceptable.
S6. Certification
S6.1 The manufacturer’s certification shall be furnished to
the purchaser stating that the material was manufactured,
sampled, tested, and inspected in accordance with the material
specification (including year date) and was found to meet the
requirements.
S6.2 A manufacturer’s certification printed from or used in
electronic form from an electronic data interchange (EDI)
transmission shall be regarded as having the same validity as a
counterpart printed in the certifier’s facility provided it con-
forms to any existing EDI agreement between the purchaser
and the supplier.
S7. Prior Approval of Major Weld Repairs
S7.1 Major weld repairs as defined and agreed upon be-
tween the manufacturer and purchaser shall be subject to the
prior approval of the purchaser.
S8. Marking
S8.1 The castings shall be marked for identification or
traceability, or both. The content of the marking and the
method of marking, including size, location, and style, shall be
as agreed upon between the purchaser and the producer.
S9. Charpy Impact Test
S9.1 Charpy impact test properties shall be determined from
a set of three Charpy V-notch specimens made from a test
coupon in accordance with Test Coupons for Steel Castings,
A1067, and tested at a test temperature agreed upon between
the manufacturer and the purchaser. The sampling require-
ments shall be agreed upon between the manufacturer and
purchaser (see 4.4). The acceptance requirements shall be
energy absorbed, lateral expansion, or percent shear area, or
any combination thereof, and shall be that agreed upon
between the manufacturer and purchaser. Test specimens shall
be prepared and tested in accordance with Test Methods and
Definitions A370, or the test track specified by the purchaser
when referencing Tests Methods A1058.
S9.2 Absorbed Energy—Average energy value of three
specimens shall be not less than specified, with not more than
one value permitted to fall below the minimum specified and
no value permitted below the minimum specified for a single
specimen.
6
S9.3 Lateral Expansion—Lateral expansion value shall be
agreed upon between the manufacturer and purchaser.
S9.4 Percent Shear Area—Percent shear area shall be
agreed upon between the manufacturer and purchaser.
S10. Hardness Test
S10.1 Hardness measurements at specified locations on the
castings shall be made in accordance with Test Methods and
Definitions A370, or the test track specified by the purchaser
when referencing Test Methods A1058, and reported.
S11. Specified Ferrite Content Range
S11.1 The chemical composition of the heat shall be con-
trolled such that the ferrite content, as determined by the
chemical composition procedure of Practice A800/A800M
shall be in conformance with the specified ferrite content
range.
S11.2 The specified ferrite content shall be as agreed upon
between the manufacturer and the purchaser. If both minimum
and maximum ferrite contents are specified, the minimum
specified ferrite content range shall be 10 %. The minimum
specified ferrite content shall be no lower than the percent
necessary to achieve the minimum mechanical properties
required for the alloy.
S11.3 Should the purchaser wish to have the ferrite content
determined by either the magnetic response or metallographic
methods, the purchaser should impose Supplementary Require-
ment S1 or S2 of Practice A800/A800M.
S12. Test Report
S12.1 The manufacturer shall supply a test report to the
purchaser giving the results of all specified tests.
S13. Unspecified Elements
S13.1 Chemical analysis and limits for elements not speci-
fied for the grade ordered shall be as agreed upon between the
manufacturer and purchaser.
S14. Tension Test from Castings
S14.1 In addition to the tension test required by the material
specification, test material shall be cut from the casting. The
mechanical properties and location for the test material shall be
agreed upon between the manufacturer and purchaser.
S15. Alternate Mechanical Test Coupons and Specimen
Locations for Castings (Instead of Test Bars Poured
from Special Coupons)
S15.1 Test coupons may be cast integrally with the mold in
which the castings are produced or in separate molds. Test
coupons shall be heat treated together with the castings they
represent.
S15.2 The dimensions of the test coupon, the number and
locations of the specimens, and the limits for the mechanical
properties shall be agreed upon between the manufacturer and
purchaser.
 A957/A957M − 15a
NOTE 1—The ten levels of severity of intergranular network structures shown are indicative of the presence of aluminum nitride precipitation in the
primary austenitic grain boundaries.
FIG. S17.1 Reference Photographs of Macroetched Cast Steel
S16. Weld Repair Charts
S16.1 Weld repairs made to correct leakage on hydrostatic
testing, or weld repairs for which the depth of the cavity
required for welding exceeds 20 % of the actual wall thickness
or 1 in. [25 mm], whichever is smaller, or weld repairs for
which the area of the cavity required for welding exceeds
approximately 10 in.2 [65 mm2] shall be documented.
S16.2 Weld repairs requiring documentation shall be docu-
mented on sketches or photographs, or both. The sketches or
photographs shall show the location and major dimensions of
cavities prepared for weld repair. The weld repair documenta-
tion shall be submitted to the purchaser at the completion of the
order.
S17. Macroetch Test
S17.1 Apply Supplementary Requirement S13 for the spec-
trographic determination and reporting of the total residual
aluminum content of all heats of ferritic and martensitic steels
subjected to this macroetch test.
S17.2 When the heat analysis indicates a total residual
aluminum content in excess of 0.08 %, the manufacturer shall
etch a cross section of the casting with the heaviest section for
which this supplementary requirement is invoked, or a coupon
attached to that heaviest section or an area directly under a riser
(see Note S17.1). Cross sections from a separately cast test
block from the same heat and of a thickness representative of
the heaviest section of castings purchased under this supple-
mentary requirement may also be used for macroetch testing.
7
The etching shall be performed on the selected section after its
heat treatment, that is, after annealing, normalizing, or quench-
ing and tempering following the initial cooling of the steel
below the transformation range.
Note S17.1—High strength martensitic castings, in
particular, may be damaged beyond use if the etch is applied
directly to the casting.
S17.3 The preparation of the surface and the macroetching
procedure with Solution No. 1 (1:1 HCl) of Table 5 in Test
Method E340 shall be followed. The resulting etched surface
shall be compared and rated with the reference photographs in
Fig. S17.1 depicting ten levels of severity of intergranular
network structures indicative of the presence of aluminum
nitride or other constituents prone toward precipitating at grain
boundaries during solidification and subsequent cooling. Fig.
S17.1 relates the severity levels shown in these photographs
with specific delineation widths and percent of boundary
outlining in the etched structures.
S17.4 Castings represented by etched structures exhibiting a
network rating in excess of Severity Level 4 shall be consid-
ered unacceptable until further evaluations are completed. The
acceptability of individual castings may be determined by
etching sections of each casting to ascertain the network
severity level. Disposition of unacceptable castings shall be a
matter of agreement between the manufacturer and purchaser.
Those castings exhibiting etched severity levels greater than
four may be evaluated further by any of the following
agreed-upon methods:
 A957/A957M − 15a
S17.4.1 Fracture testing to determine the amount of “rock
candy” structure.
S17.4.2 Mechanical testing (for example, bend, tensile) to
determine the ductility characteristics.
S17.4.3 Weld testing to determine crack susceptibility in the
heat-affected zone of a circular groove welded with cellulose-
coated electrodes.
S17.5 Alternatively, by agreement, it is permissible to
subject castings from an unacceptable heat to a high tempera-
ture solution treatment prior to the normal production heat-
treatment and subsequently macroetch test each casting.
S17.6 Heavy section castings (see Note S17.2) whose
configurations are amenable to the attachment of test coupons
representative of the section thickness involved and from
which standard 0.505 in. [12.827 mm] diameter tension speci-
mens may be machined are exempt from this macroetch test if
the results of the tension test on the coupon after heat-treatment
of the casting meet the minimum requirements specified for the
grade of steel involved.
Note S17.2—For purposes of this supplementary
requirement, a heavy section casting is defined as one having a
wall thickness of 11⁄2 in. [37 mm] or greater, in combination
with a casting weight of at least 1000 lb [455 kg].
S18. Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIPing)
S18.1 Castings shall be processed by Hot Isostatic Pressing
(HIPing) according to Practice A1080. Unless specified by the
purchaser, the HIPing time, temperature, pressure, and other
parameters shall be at the discretion of the producer.
S18.2 When agreed between the producer and the purchaser,
HIP may be substituted for a required thermal treatment
provided that all the requirements for that treatment are met.
Otherwise heat treatment of castings shall occur after hot
isostatic pressing.
S18.3 Castings should undergo HIP before machining or
finishing operations.
S19. Cleaning of Stainless Steels
S19.1 Final cleaning of the casting surfaces shall be per-
formed in accordance with one of the cleaning methods in
Practice A380 or Specification A967 as agreed upon between
the purchaser and the supplier. Acceptance testing shall be
subject to agreement between the purchaser and supplier.
8
S20. Increased Testing Frequency—Chemical Analysis
S20.1 Frequency of chemical analysis shall be as agreed
upon between the purchaser and manufacturer.
S21. Increased Testing Frequency—Tensile Testing
S21.1 Frequency of tension tests shall be as agreed upon
between the purchaser and manufacturer.
S22. Decarburization
S22.1 A representative casting or coupon shall be evaluated
for total or complete decarburization, or both, in accordance
with ARP 1341.
S22.2 The basis for acceptance shall be agreed upon be-
tween the purchaser and manufacturer. An example of an
acceptance specification is: zero total decarburization and no
more than 0.020 in. partial decarburization.
S23. Metallurgical Cleanliness
S23.1 After polishing, each casting shall be visually in-
spected for nonmetallic inclusions and porosity.
S23.2 The details of the method for inspection and the basis
for acceptance shall be agreed upon between the purchaser and
manufacturer.
S23.3 It is realized that the foundry may be unable to
perform the inspection for metallurgical cleanliness prior to
shipment, or that the purchaser may wish to defer inspection
until after additional work or machining has been performed on
the casting. However, the foundry is responsible for the
satisfactory performance of the castings under the final inspec-
tion required in S23.1.
S24. Tension Test
S24.1 One tension test shall be performed from material
representing each master heat. Sampling and testing require-
ments are given in Sections 4.4 and 6 of this standard.
S24.2 The test results shall conform to the requirements of
the applicable product standard. In the event that the product
standard does not specify minimum values, then the require-
ments shall be as agreed.
S50–S69.
(These numbers are reserved for assignment by the indi-
vidual product specifications.)
 A957/A957M − 15a
SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee A01 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(A957/A957M – 15) that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved Nov. 1, 2015.)

(1) Revised 5.3. (2) Added new Table 1.

Committee A01 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(A957/A957M – 14) that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved March 1, 2015.)

(1) Revised wording in Paragraph 6.2.

Committee A01 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(A957/A957M – 13) that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved Oct. 1, 2014.)

(1) Inserted new paragraph 4.1. (4) Revised paragraph 6.7 to conform to A370, A8, and A1058,
(2) Revised 4.4.2. A1.
(3) Corrected the SI units in 5.2 and 5.3. (5) Revised Supplementary Requirement S18.

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